Tablet cutter

ABSTRACT

The invention is directed to a pill cutter that has a protected cutting edge. The pill cutter includes a guard, a base, and a cover. The components are arranged such that the guard slides over the cutting edge when the pill cutter is in an open position and the guard exposes the cutting edge when the pill cutter is in a closed position. The invention is also directed at a method for assembling the pill cutter and a method of using the pill cutter to cut a pill or tablet.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a divisional of application Ser. No. 11/079,435,filed Mar. 14, 2005, which application is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to cutting devices and morespecifically relates to a device for safely and efficiently cuttingtablets.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Due to numerous practical considerations, pills are not manufactured indosages small enough to satisfy the needs of all pill consumers. Forexample, dosages appropriate for small children or adults who areespecially sensitive to particular medication are often less than thedosage contained in one tablet or pill (the terms “pill” and “tablet”are used interchangeably throughout this document). In addition, someindividuals find it difficult to swallow large pills and would preferbreaking a large pill into smaller parts before consumption.

Primitive methods of breaking pills include snapping pills by hand orcutting pills with an ordinary knife while holding the pill with one'sfingers. These primitive methods commonly result in tablet crumblingand/or personal injury. Accordingly, attempts have been made to developtablet cutters for safely and efficiently cutting tablets. Exemplarytablet cutters are disclosed in the following U.S. patents to Eric (U.S.Pat. No. 6,557,945); Leopoldi et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,173,826); Gaffneyet al. (U.S. Pat. No. 3,517,871); and Davoren (U.S. Pat. No. 2,655,259).Though today there exist safer and more effective alternatives to usingan ordinary knife to split tablets, current tablet cutters can bedifficult to manipulate, result in excess tablet crumbling, and includepotentially dangerous exposed cutting edges. In addition, known devicescan often be difficult to manufacture due to particular designcomplexities. It would be a significant advance in the art to provide atablet cutter that embodies fewer of the above-identified shortcomings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a pill cutter that has a protected cuttingedge. One aspect of the present invention relates to an example pillcutter that includes a blade guard, a base and a cover. The componentsare arranged such that the blade guard moves to cover the blade when thepill cutter is opened and the blade guard moves to expose the cuttingedge when the pill cutter is closed.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to a pill cutter thatincludes a base, a cover pivotally attached to the base, and a bladeguard movably coupled to the cover such that the blade guard movesrelative to the cover when the cover is pivoted relative to the base.

A further aspect of the present invention relates to a pill cutter thatincludes a guide plate that slides over a blade such that when thetablet cutter is biased toward an open position, the guide plate slidestoward the blade. When the tablet cutter is biased toward a closedposition, the guide plate slides away from the blade.

A yet further aspect of the present invention is directed to a method ofassembling a pill cutter. One example method includes fixedly attachinga blade to a cover and slidably attaching a guard to the cover. Theguard is configured to slidably move between a first position coveringthe blade and a second position in which the blade is exposed forcutting.

Another aspect of the invention is direction to a method of cutting apill. One example method includes positioning a tablet in a base andpivoting a cover toward the base until a blade passes through thetablet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may be more completely understood in consideration of thefollowing detailed description of various embodiments of the inventionin connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tablet cutter in an open positionaccording to the principles of the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a tablet cutter in a closed positionwith a portion of the cover removed for clarity.

While the invention is amenable to various modifications and alternateforms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example and thedrawings, and will be described in detail. It should be understood,however, that the intention is not to limit the invention to theparticular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is tocover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling withinthe spirit and scope of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention generally relates to pill and tablet cuttingdevices and more specifically relates to pill cutting devices thatinclude a protected cutting edge. The cutting edge may be protectedusing a movable cover. The movable cover may be configured to move froma first position covering the cutting edge and a second position inwhich the cutting edge is exposed for cutting. The movable cover mayautomatically move between the first and second positions when the pillcutting device is adjusted from an open position wherein a pill ispositioned relative to the cutting edge for cutting, and a closedposition wherein the cutting edge cuts through the pill.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a tablet cutter 10 according to theprinciples of the present invention is shown. The tablet cutter 10includes a base 20 and a cover 80. Cover 80 is shown partially cut awayin FIG. 2 to more clearly illustrate features hidden in FIG. 1. The base20 and the cover 80 are configured to support a tablet in a position forcutting. The cover 80, which houses a blade 100, is coupled to the base20 such that moving the cover 80 toward the base 20 results in cuttingof the tablet.

The base 20 includes a first end 22 and a second end 24 and a generallyrectangular bottom portion 26 having four periphery edges. The base 20further includes four sidewalls 28, 30, 32, and 34 that extend generallyperpendicularly from the bottom portion 26 in an upward direction toform a generally open-box shaped structure. Sidewall 34 is disposed atthe first end 22 of the base 20 and sidewall 32 is disposed oppositesidewall 34 at the second end 24 of the base 20. Sidewalls 28 and 30 areopposite each other and are oriented along the length of the base 20.

The base 20 further includes a tablet holder assembly 36 for retainingthe tablet in a position for cutting. The tablet holder assembly 36 isshown positioned closer to the first end 22 than the second end 24 ofthe base 20, thereby defining a tablet storage compartment 48 near thesecond end 24 of the base 20. The tablet holder assembly 36 includes ablock 38 that is attached to the bottom portion 26 of the base 20. Theblock 38 according to the embodiment shown is a raised portion that isintegral with the bottom portion 26. The block 38 shown includes a flattop cutting surface 40 a pair of raised centering guides 44, 46 thatflank the cutting surface. In the embodiment shown, the centering guides44, 46 are arranged to form a generally V-shaped structure having anarrow end and an open end. The centering guides 44, 46 are helpful inpositioning the tablet before and during cutting. The V-shapedarrangement of the centering guides 44, 46 is particularly useful forpositioning many different sizes and shapes of tablets and pills forcutting.

The first end 22 of the base 20 further includes a portion of a hingeassembly 50 that is constructed to couple the base 20 with the cover 80.The hinge assembly 50 includes a notched out back portion 52 having apair of opposed flanges 54, 56 with base pivots 58 disposed thereon. Thebase pivots 58 are shown as raised cylindrical bosses that are sized tobe received by the cover 80. The cover 80 includes an extender member 60that projects generally perpendicularly out from a first end 82 of thecover 80. The extender member 60 can be sized to fit the notched outportion 52 of the base 20. The extender member 60 may include apertures66 that engage the base pivots 58.

The elongate structure of extender member 60 (that is, the length ofextender member 60 from the top portion 86 to the flanges 54, 56)provides a lever action when closing the cover 80 relative to base 20.This lever action may improve the amount of force applied between theblade 100 and a tablet positioned on the cutting surface 40.

The second end 24 of the base 20 may further include a portion of a lockassembly 68. The lock assembly 68 includes a lip portion 70 disposedalong the inner edge 72 of the sidewall 32. The lip portion 70 isconstructed to be interlocked with a lip receiving recess 74 in thecover 80. The lock assembly 68 further includes a first recess portion76 along the major surface of the sidewall 32 and a first tab 78 on thesidewall 32. The lock assembly 68 includes a matching recess and amatching tab on the cover 80. The sidewall 88 of the cover 80 located atthe second end 84 of the cover 80 includes a second recess portion 130and a second tab 132. The recesses 76, 130 and tabs 78, 132 are arrangedsuch that when the cover 80 and base 30 are mated, the second tab 132 isadjacent the first recess 76 and the first tab 78 is adjacent the secondrecess portion 130. The tabs 78, 132 may be useful for opening thedevice 10 when the cover 80 and base 30 are mated, and the recesses 76,130 provide easier access to the tabs 78, 132.

The cover 80 can include a generally rectangular top portion 86 that hassidewalls 88, 90, 92, and 94 extending from each periphery edge. In theembodiment shown, sidewall 92 is disposed at the first end 82 of thecover 80 and sidewall 88 is disposed at the second end 84 of the cover80. Sidewall 94 and sidewall 90 are disposed opposite each other alongthe length of the cover 80.

The cover 80 as shown further includes a blade guard assembly 96 whichhas a guard plate 98 that slides in relation to the blade 100. The guardplate 98 includes two generally straight periphery edges 102, 104 thatare received by sidewalls 90 and 94. In the embodiment shown, sidewall94 includes a groove 106 that extends along the edge portion of thesidewall 94. The groove 106 is constructed to slidably receive the edge102. Similarly, sidewall 90 includes a groove 108 that extends alongedge portion of the sidewall 94. The groove 108 is constructed toslidably receive the edge 104. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the guardplate 98 is flat, rigid, and planar across the plate 98 between theedges 102, 104.

The blade 100 of the blade guard assembly 96 is fixed to the cover 80.The blade 100 is located on the cover 80 closer to the first end 82 thanto the second end 84 and approximately equal distance from the sidewalls90 and 94. The blade 100 is arranged parallel to the sidewalls 90 and 94and such that its cutting edge 110 extends away from the top portion 86of the cover 80.

The blade guard assembly 96 may further include an end plate 112 thatextends between the sidewalls 90, 94. The blade 100 may be coupled tothe end plate 112 to provide additional support for the blade 100. Theend plate 112 may also limit exposure of one end of the blade 100 andseparate the storage compartment 48 from the cutting surface 40.

The blade 100 may be coupled to the cover 80 using any desiredconnection method or structure. For example, the blade 100 may beco-molded into the cover 80, coupled to the cover 80 with an adhesive orusing heat welding, or coupled to the cover with an interference orsnap-fit connection.

The blade guard assembly 96 further includes a first actuator arm 114and a second actuator arm 116. The first end 118 of the first actuatorarm 114 is pivotally connected to the lower end of the guard plate 98 atthe corner adjacent the sidewall 94. The second end 120 of the firstactuator arm 114 can be pivotally connected to the first fixed pivotmount 122 on the base 20. Likewise, the first end 124 of the secondactuator arm 116 is pivotally connected to the lower end of the guardplate 98 at the corner adjacent the sidewall 90. The second end 126 ofthe second actuator arm 116 can be pivotally connected to the secondfixed pivot mount 128 on the base 20. Such an attachment arrangementresults in the guard plate 98 sliding toward the second end 84 of thecover 80 when the cover 80 is pivoted toward the base 20 therebyexposing the cutting end 110. Inversely, when the cover 80 is pivotedaway from the base 20 the guide plate 98 moves toward the first end 82of the cover 80 and thereby covers the cutting edge 110.

In some embodiments the base 20 and the cover 80 preferably include apolymer based material. In some embodiments the materials for the base20, cover 80, and other features of the table cutter 10 may be injectionmoldable and partially translucent. However, it should be understoodthat many other materials may be used for various features of the tabletcutter 10. For example, the base 20 and cover 80 can be made of aluminumor glass. Also, the blade 100 may be made of stainless steel,composites, polymer based material such as glass reinforced polymers,ceramics, or other materials.

While the Figures of the application illustrate a tablet cutter having agenerally rectangular shape, the present invention is not so limited inshape. Other embodiments may include a generally circular or polygonalshaped base and cover configuration. Likewise, the guard plate may havedifferent shapes beside the rectangular shape shown. Other features ofthe tablet cutter may also be modified to properly function withdifferent shaped housing members and guard plates. For example, thegrooves in which the guard plate slide (e.g., grooves 106, 108 of tabletcutter 10) may be provided in support structures that are separate fromthe outer walls of the tablet cutter cover. Also, the actuator arms thatsupport the guard plate may be supported by support structures that areseparate from the base portion of the tablet cutter.

In yet further embodiments, the guard plate may be removably coupled tothe tablet cutter. This type of configuration may be useful for, forexample, removing the guard plate in the event the user no longer wishesto have the protective functionality of the guard plate or to repair theblade typically covered when the cover is open relative to the base.

The present invention should not be considered limited to the particularexamples or materials described above, but rather should be understoodto cover all aspects of the invention as fairly set out in the attachedclaims. Various modifications, equivalent processes, as well as numerousstructures to which the present invention may be applicable will bereadily apparent to those of skill in the art to which the presentinvention is directed upon review of the instant specification.

I claim:
 1. A tablet cutter comprising: a blade, a blade guard plate, abase, and a cover; the blade guard plate having opposite sides and anouter perimeter, and being completely flat, rigid, and planar inextension across the plate between the opposite sides and within theouter perimeter; the cover being pivotally attached to the base; thecover having a first end and a second end; the blade positioned betweenthe cover and the base; the blade guard plate being held slidably by thecover between the cover and the base; the blade guard plate having anupper end nearer to the second end of the cover than the first end ofthe cover; the blade guard plate having a lower end nearer to the firstend of the cover than the second end of the cover; the blade guard platehaving opposite edges extending between the upper end and the lower end;the blade guard plate opposite edges being slidably attached to thecover; wherein the blade guard plate is configured and arranged to moveautomatically between a first position and a second position; whereinthe blade guard plate, including the upper end and the lower end arecompletely within the cover in both the first position and the secondposition; the first position of the blade guard plate cover the bladewhen the cover is pivoted away from the base; and the second position ofthe blade guard plate exposes the blade when the cover is pivoted towardthe base.
 2. The tablet cutter according to claim 1 wherein the coverincludes channels constructed to slidably receive the blade guard plate.3. The tablet cutter according to claim 1 wherein the blade is in afixed orientation with respect to the cover.
 4. The tablet cutteraccording to claim 1 wherein the tablet cutter includes a means forautomatically moving the blade guard plate when the cover is pivotedwith respect to the cutting surface.